Gruppen and Colonna formed 3rd April 41 - Tobruk

[ClintHardware]

Hi All

I have written up a couple of pages on the formation of the Gruppen and Italian Colonna formed on the 3rd April 41 and it probably contains errors. I have looked at a variety of original sources and post war books for any data, and I have also based composition on what was later encountered during the battles and skirmishes on the way back to Tobruk.

Is anyone interested in ripping it to shreds for me ? I would be pleased with a total destruction job done on it.

Let me know if you are interested and I will attach it.

[Urmel]

Sure, attach ahead.

[ClintHardware]

So here are my notes that I am trying to build up to be a chapter that outlines the composition of the gruppen and colonnie (columns). At the moment most gruppe/colonna paragraphs included a sentence that indicates the routes taken over the days to come but I may remove those details and just give a starting point if known.

I have not worked out what Axis units were present at Er Regima on the 4th, and the routes of the columns given by other authors complicates this issue. I am sure there are errors in the attached.

[nmao]

Wooow!
Great data! i'm on holydays and it will take me a few days to digest.
Can't really add anything, but have you checked this?
http://www.testofbattle.com/files/Romme ... ensive.pdf
Don't know how accurate it is, but Frank Chadwick's research is usually good.

regards

-Nuno

[ClintHardware]

Thanks for the link Nmao - I will cross check it with what I have (which could be wrong).

I am curious about Er Regima on the 4th April. The composition of the attackers looks more like Vorausabteilung Schwerin than Wechmar and M.G. 2. and they were credited as initially taking a route that avoided Er Regima. AND MG2 were noted as being almost intact for the attack on the 30th April/1st May. The infantry attacking at Er Regima were German not Italian, so could they have been Regimentsstab z.b.V 200 with Schwerin?

I would love to know the answer to this curiosity.

[David W]

Nice work fellas!

[Oasis]

I will have a look with my notes as my father was leading a subgroup of Fabris...

[Oasis]

Thanks for the link Nmao - I will cross check it with what I have (which could be wrong).

I am curious about Er Regima on the 4th April. The composition of the attackers looks more like Vorausabteilung Schwerin than Wechmar and M.G. 2. and they were credited as initially taking a route that avoided Er Regima. AND MG2 were noted as being almost intact for the attack on the 30th April/1st May. The infantry attacking at Er Regima were German not Italian, so could they have been Regimentsstab z.b.V 200 with Schwerin?

I would love to know the answer to this curiosity.

On 4 april afternoon Wechmar's 3.AA plus 39.PzJaeg. (13 tanks, 4 arm.cars and 3000 men) attacked at El-Regima 3 coys of 2/13 Australian plus 1 MG coy British Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and 4 howitzers of 51.Field Rgt. Australians withdrew at 22.00/24.00 leaving 150 dead/pow ["9 Austr.Division Gen.Staff Branch, 4 april 1941"].
My father's war diary (Brescia southern coln, 7th battery 20mm. of I.group 1st Artiglieria Celere) reports for days 6-7 april: "We meet [Er-Regima?] german forces and unite. Destroyed (47) tanks and british armored/cars."
Also in "La prima controffensiva, 1974 pp.90-95" is cited on 5 april that Wechmar rejected a british counterattack of about 40 tanks and arm/cars that were destroyed.
I did not find any other mention about a battle engaging tanks at Er-Regima between 4-6 april.

Toni

[ClintHardware]

Hi Toni

Thanks for some interesting information. I will check what I have and respond properly tomorrow. As the attack began the 2/13th or 203 Battery 51st Field Regiment counted a force some 3000 strong and this is what has caused me to wonder about the identity and composition of those Axis troops present - as well as the routes given for the gruppen and colonne.

[Oasis]

The only gruppe/colonna present on the way from Bengasi to Mechili via Er-Regima, El-Abiar, El-Heira El-Ageba, Charruba, Bir En-Ngara, were:
- Wechmar: 3.AA, one Co. 39.PzJaeg., reinforced at Er-Regima with
- Southern Brescia colonna (one battery 75/27, two sections 20mm 7th battery/I.Group 1° Articelere, one co. cannoni 47/32) leaded (as reported from Kirchheim) by a "LTC which was very cautious and reacted only on the orders of his Div. Cdr." (my father...).
Then, the italian column will be left behind by germans, due to transport troubles, on the track to El-Aqeba; on 7 april a small detachment (german?) was sent from Bir En-Ngara to Maraua, but in the evening germans and italians stopped together for the night some kilometers before Mechili. The day after Mechili (already conquered) is reached and whilst 7th battery Brescia is commanded to garrison the fort of Mechili (until 18th april, now attached to III./group), Wechmar's 3.AA continues to Derna.
Toni

[ClintHardware]

Thanks Toni

I have the 1st Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at Regima. This is part of the Australian after action report:

ENGAGEMENT OF 2/13 BATTALION AT ER REGIMA 4TH APRL 1941
2200 hrs. Two Coys Northumberland Fusiliers and one Battery 24 Anti-Tank Coy arrive. No sign of promised 25 pounders. Officer commanding NF party states that their machine guns are useless in the dark without daylight reconnaissance and fixed lines. One Coy sent back to take up position 5,000 yards in rear in case enemy overrun withdrawal. One Platoon NF placed in position to cover embussing of troops. (AWM Canberra)

But who was fighting as infantry on foot with bayonets fixed? Wechmar and Pzjgr 39 surely can't produce such numbers and they are specialists in their own field so why send them into hand to hand fighting?

The huge number of British tanks reported is very likely to be Carriers.

From what you have said was your father Generale Zambon?

[Urmel]

The infantry attacking at Er Regima were German not Italian, so could they have been Regimentsstab z.b.V 200 with Schwerin?

Unlikely, given that von Schwerin was advancing on Tengeder via Giof el Matar on 3 April.

The only force indicated in the DAK war diary is reinforced A.A.3.

[Oasis]

Thanks Toni

I have the 1st Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at Regima. This is part of the Australian after action report:

ENGAGEMENT OF 2/13 BATTALION AT ER REGIMA 4TH APRL 1941
2200 hrs. Two Coys Northumberland Fusiliers and one Battery 24 Anti-Tank Coy arrive. No sign of promised 25 pounders. Officer commanding NF party states that their machine guns are useless in the dark without daylight reconnaissance and fixed lines. One Coy sent back to take up position 5,000 yards in rear in case enemy overrun withdrawal. One Platoon NF placed in position to cover embussing of troops. (AWM Canberra)

But who was fighting as infantry on foot with bayonets fixed? Wechmar and Pzjgr 39 surely can't produce such numbers and they are specialists in their own field so why send them into hand to hand fighting?

The huge number of British tanks reported is very likely to be Carriers.

From what you have said was your father Generale Zambon?

noooo, my father was a Lt of artillery and really the two Brescia columns avantgards were leaded by two Lt of 1st regt. Articelere with their own sections, and the rest to follow, as reported also by Kirchheim. The northern was Lt Sfreddo (8th battery), the southern was Lt Guarnotta (my father, 7th Battery): the two 20mm batteries were the only really 'celere' troops of Brescia.
Lt Sfreddo was then launched against Tobruk defences in the first attempt, with his mitragliere 20mm on trucks and was defeated by bush artillery, the same that killed von Prittwitz... Sfreddo, injured was caught as POW and then sent to Texas...

It results to me that AA.3 force was 3000 inf., 13 tanks and 4 arm/cars...

[ClintHardware]

OK Thanks Toni

Would you like me to add your father's full name and rank into the text of the book I am writing?

If there is anything you would like me to state please let me know. We do not get enough Italian detail written in English language books.

[Oasis]

no problems for the name, if he was still with us I think he wouldn't have any... I also have a picture of the advance around Er-Regima with his artillery section (there is also a short movie on "Luce" where he leads the column sitting in a truck...)
I have nothing to state, if you have some more questions ask me, I will tell you what I know.
I will be glad of reading a copy of your book, as am writing one about Brescia and 1.Articelere also following my father's diary (but it's a long labor...).
zdravstvyj
Toni